Buying protein skimmer

Wilkerson.reed · 03/17/2015, 03:43 PM

I am 13 and new to saltwater aquariums... My local fish store said that I didn't need a protein skimmer which now I know that i do. Now I figured out I need a Eshopps Hang On Protein Skimmer PSK-75H - Up to 75 Gallons. I was wondering if anyone new a good online place to get one for a good price. Another thing someone said that I also need filter floss. Where could I get filter floss?

ReefsandGeeks · 03/17/2015, 03:51 PM

I think I got my protein skimmer (same one) from amazon. filter floss, I get from the arts and crafts sectoin of walmart. they have "quilt filler" which is just rolls of polyester fiber that you can cut to fit in your filter to save tons of money.

FYI, the protein skimmer will take some time to break in once you start using it. Mine took a month to get up to 100% working order, but was doing pretty good withing a week. It'll jsut take a good bit of fiddling around when it's new. I'd recomend putting the cup's drain hose into the aquarium so if it does overflo when you're not around it woun't empty your tank. I've had my cup over flow many times and this has saved me every time.

What size aquarium do you have and what do you have in it? before you pick a skimmer, we can help you pick one that is appropriotly sized. I have that skimmer on a 40 gallon tank and have no problem keeping dificult coral, but on a 75 it may be under rated, depending on your bioload and what you're keeping.

Wilkerson.reed · 03/17/2015, 03:56 PM

I have a 36 gallon tank with 15 pounds of live rock, about 3 inches of live sand, a clownfish, banner Cardinal, yellowtail damsel, skunk basslet, pulsing xenia, anemones, star polyps, and a few other small corals...
Thanks for the help by the way!

mmittlesteadt · 03/17/2015, 05:52 PM

I have a 40G breeder and I have the Eshopps HOB PSK-100 (I went for overkill). I haven't even filled my tank with water yet, but all the SW tanks at our LFS are running them. They are great Protein Skimmers. Very sturdy and well constructed and easy to use, but like all skimmers there is a break-in period.

You can check amazon and ebay for deals. I got mine through our store, but as an employee I get everything at cost so I don't know where to get good deals for them online.

Wilkerson.reed · 03/17/2015, 08:34 PM

Ok... I will try to get the filter floss at Walmart and order the Eshopps Hang On Protein Skimmer PSK-75H - Up to 75 Gallons somewhere as soon as possible... Thanks!

Stevenliu9 · 03/17/2015, 10:04 PM

wow you have... ALOT in that 36G! I have a 28G going with seahorse and no skimmer, just water change every other week and it's doing just fine- that said I have a ton of macro algae in there to help export nutrients

MJV0103 · 03/18/2015, 10:04 AM

That does seem to be high bio load for your tank, so make sure you track your levels often. The skimmer will help with that. Might want to grow some macro in a container in the corner as well to help out. I typically buy all my equipment off amazon, usually alittle cheaper, and most of the time i get one or two shipments containing items from many different locations.

ReefsandGeeks · 03/18/2015, 10:45 AM

I don't think your tank is over stocked personaly. I have a 40 gallon and have more than you. Well, it may be for running no skimmer but you're about to fix that. Having a higher bioload means you need to watch your perameters more closely and also need to have netter nutrient export. Also make sure your tank has plenty of hiding places for all of the fish. 15 pounds of live rock is pretty low. Usualy people go with 1-2 pounds per gallon of water. Depends on the look you're going for, but it does help with biological filtration. I have about 50 pounds in my 40 gallon.

With good maintenance, and a close eye you should be able to keep youre perameters wherever you want. If after you get your skimmer going well for a while and you're still having problems with nitrates, look into carbon dosing with vinegar. That skimmer will be able to keep your nitrates undetectable if you wanted, even with the higher bioload. Mine has no problem, I even have it dialed back to get nitrates up because they are too low.

ReefsandGeeks · 03/18/2015, 10:47 AM

Coral don't realy add to the bioload as far as the nitrogen cycle, unless you're feeding them excessivly. I don't feel like youre fish load is too high, so that's why I don't think you are over stocked. I'm not familiar with anememes though. I've heard they can be difficult, but I've never had an interest in keeping them, so I havne't looked into them much.

djtuzik · 03/18/2015, 01:31 PM

I think LFS is right, you don't need a protein skimmer

ReefsandGeeks · 03/18/2015, 03:11 PM

I disagree with djtuzik. I ran my tank for 6 months without a protein skimmer, and was doing water changes every weekend of 25% just to keep nitrates down to 40ppm, and I was feeding lightly. I got the eshopps skimmer mentioned above and after breaking in, my nitrates were consistently down to 10ppm with smaller water changes mostly every other week. With the addition of carbon dosing, I only change water to make sure trace elements are in order and to keep the water fresh for things I don't test. I can very easily adjust nitrates wherever I want them to be without having to constantly be making RODI water, Mixxing saltwater, heating it up, draining and filling aquarium. I'd get one just for the ease of maintainance.

In addition to nitrate reduction, a protein skimmer will aerate the water, raising the pH and also increaseing oxygen levels. I used to belive you didn't need one, untill i got one. Now I would never be without one. Particuarly anyone with corals. Your perameters can be kept much more stable and in more desirable ranges with a skimmer.

mmark · 03/18/2015, 03:12 PM

Can you get away without a skimmer --yes. Can you get away with only 15lbs of LR --yes. But....Get the skimmer and add some more live rock. You'll be much better off. Also as much as you may like the people at your LFS don't take all the advise they give you as fact. I had one of the guys at one of my favorite stores tell me when I started I could add a tang to my 29. I already knew better but.... It's always a good idea to throw questions out on sites like this. You get multiple opinions...you make the choice and then learn from it. BTW good luck with your tank it's always nice to see young people interested in the hobby.

ReefsandGeeks · 03/18/2015, 03:17 PM

+1^^, I'm 25 and jumped into the hobby by myself. I always wanted a saltwater tank, but my dad was always afraid of the maintainance and cost. Now that he's seen mine he's been fighitng with himself to get a good size reef tank.

It's a great idea to bring up your purchaseson reef centeral before buying. I would have saved SO MUCH MONEY if I had resisted impulse buys. I probably waster $1000 in stuff I didn't need in the first 2-3 months. An expencive lesson. There's alot of info out there, but much of it is outdated or inaccurate. Ask, get oppinions, make your oen decision.

djtuzik · 03/18/2015, 06:13 PM

with the current setup, protein skimmer will do very little.
It's not enough water volume to create a stand alone system. YOu are much better off with canister with chemical filtration and then a skimmer if you have extra $$$
skimmer alone will not be enouph

03/17/2015, 03:43 PM	#1
Wilkerson.reed Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 90	Buying protein skimmer I am 13 and new to saltwater aquariums... My local fish store said that I didn't need a protein skimmer which now I know that i do. Now I figured out I need a Eshopps Hang On Protein Skimmer PSK-75H - Up to 75 Gallons. I was wondering if anyone new a good online place to get one for a good price. Another thing someone said that I also need filter floss. Where could I get filter floss?

03/17/2015, 10:04 PM	#6
Stevenliu9 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Madison WI Posts: 795	wow you have... ALOT in that 36G! I have a 28G going with seahorse and no skimmer, just water change every other week and it's doing just fine- that said I have a ton of macro algae in there to help export nutrients __________________ Steven Liu See More at: bluemarineart.com Current Tank Info: 180 Mix Reef + 28G Seahorse Species Tank

03/18/2015, 03:12 PM	#12
mmark Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Scranton Pa. Posts: 71	Can you get away without a skimmer --yes. Can you get away with only 15lbs of LR --yes. But....Get the skimmer and add some more live rock. You'll be much better off. Also as much as you may like the people at your LFS don't take all the advise they give you as fact. I had one of the guys at one of my favorite stores tell me when I started I could add a tang to my 29. I already knew better but.... It's always a good idea to throw questions out on sites like this. You get multiple opinions...you make the choice and then learn from it. BTW good luck with your tank it's always nice to see young people interested in the hobby. __________________ Learn something new everyday. 29 gallon.in wall viewable from 2 sides two clowns-Ban card-royal gram Reef octopus bh90- OR Artic S026 LED- Vortech MP10- cuc snails -crabs. Lps sps.

03/17/2015, 03:51 PM	#2
ReefsandGeeks Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,708	I think I got my protein skimmer (same one) from amazon. filter floss, I get from the arts and crafts sectoin of walmart. they have "quilt filler" which is just rolls of polyester fiber that you can cut to fit in your filter to save tons of money. FYI, the protein skimmer will take some time to break in once you start using it. Mine took a month to get up to 100% working order, but was doing pretty good withing a week. It'll jsut take a good bit of fiddling around when it's new. I'd recomend putting the cup's drain hose into the aquarium so if it does overflo when you're not around it woun't empty your tank. I've had my cup over flow many times and this has saved me every time. What size aquarium do you have and what do you have in it? before you pick a skimmer, we can help you pick one that is appropriotly sized. I have that skimmer on a 40 gallon tank and have no problem keeping dificult coral, but on a 75 it may be under rated, depending on your bioload and what you're keeping.

03/17/2015, 03:56 PM	#3
Wilkerson.reed Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 90	I have a 36 gallon tank with 15 pounds of live rock, about 3 inches of live sand, a clownfish, banner Cardinal, yellowtail damsel, skunk basslet, pulsing xenia, anemones, star polyps, and a few other small corals... Thanks for the help by the way!

03/17/2015, 05:52 PM	#4
mmittlesteadt Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Rothschild, WI Posts: 1,209	I have a 40G breeder and I have the Eshopps HOB PSK-100 (I went for overkill). I haven't even filled my tank with water yet, but all the SW tanks at our LFS are running them. They are great Protein Skimmers. Very sturdy and well constructed and easy to use, but like all skimmers there is a break-in period. You can check amazon and ebay for deals. I got mine through our store, but as an employee I get everything at cost so I don't know where to get good deals for them online.

03/17/2015, 08:34 PM	#5
Wilkerson.reed Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 90	Ok... I will try to get the filter floss at Walmart and order the Eshopps Hang On Protein Skimmer PSK-75H - Up to 75 Gallons somewhere as soon as possible... Thanks!

03/18/2015, 10:04 AM	#7
MJV0103 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: DC Metro Area Posts: 228	That does seem to be high bio load for your tank, so make sure you track your levels often. The skimmer will help with that. Might want to grow some macro in a container in the corner as well to help out. I typically buy all my equipment off amazon, usually alittle cheaper, and most of the time i get one or two shipments containing items from many different locations.

03/18/2015, 10:45 AM	#8
ReefsandGeeks Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,708	I don't think your tank is over stocked personaly. I have a 40 gallon and have more than you. Well, it may be for running no skimmer but you're about to fix that. Having a higher bioload means you need to watch your perameters more closely and also need to have netter nutrient export. Also make sure your tank has plenty of hiding places for all of the fish. 15 pounds of live rock is pretty low. Usualy people go with 1-2 pounds per gallon of water. Depends on the look you're going for, but it does help with biological filtration. I have about 50 pounds in my 40 gallon. With good maintenance, and a close eye you should be able to keep youre perameters wherever you want. If after you get your skimmer going well for a while and you're still having problems with nitrates, look into carbon dosing with vinegar. That skimmer will be able to keep your nitrates undetectable if you wanted, even with the higher bioload. Mine has no problem, I even have it dialed back to get nitrates up because they are too low.

03/18/2015, 10:47 AM	#9
ReefsandGeeks Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,708	Coral don't realy add to the bioload as far as the nitrogen cycle, unless you're feeding them excessivly. I don't feel like youre fish load is too high, so that's why I don't think you are over stocked. I'm not familiar with anememes though. I've heard they can be difficult, but I've never had an interest in keeping them, so I havne't looked into them much.

03/18/2015, 01:31 PM	#10
djtuzik Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 282	I think LFS is right, you don't need a protein skimmer

03/18/2015, 03:11 PM	#11
ReefsandGeeks Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,708	I disagree with djtuzik. I ran my tank for 6 months without a protein skimmer, and was doing water changes every weekend of 25% just to keep nitrates down to 40ppm, and I was feeding lightly. I got the eshopps skimmer mentioned above and after breaking in, my nitrates were consistently down to 10ppm with smaller water changes mostly every other week. With the addition of carbon dosing, I only change water to make sure trace elements are in order and to keep the water fresh for things I don't test. I can very easily adjust nitrates wherever I want them to be without having to constantly be making RODI water, Mixxing saltwater, heating it up, draining and filling aquarium. I'd get one just for the ease of maintainance. In addition to nitrate reduction, a protein skimmer will aerate the water, raising the pH and also increaseing oxygen levels. I used to belive you didn't need one, untill i got one. Now I would never be without one. Particuarly anyone with corals. Your perameters can be kept much more stable and in more desirable ranges with a skimmer.

03/18/2015, 03:17 PM	#13
ReefsandGeeks Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,708	+1^^, I'm 25 and jumped into the hobby by myself. I always wanted a saltwater tank, but my dad was always afraid of the maintainance and cost. Now that he's seen mine he's been fighitng with himself to get a good size reef tank. It's a great idea to bring up your purchaseson reef centeral before buying. I would have saved SO MUCH MONEY if I had resisted impulse buys. I probably waster $1000 in stuff I didn't need in the first 2-3 months. An expencive lesson. There's alot of info out there, but much of it is outdated or inaccurate. Ask, get oppinions, make your oen decision.

03/18/2015, 06:13 PM	#14
djtuzik Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 282	with the current setup, protein skimmer will do very little. It's not enough water volume to create a stand alone system. YOu are much better off with canister with chemical filtration and then a skimmer if you have extra $$$ skimmer alone will not be enouph